How life has changed in Sefton

Sefton's population decreased by about 9,200 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the most notable changes among the local population.

The population decreased

In the decade to 2011, the population of Sefton fell by 3.2%, from almost 283,000 to 274,000.

The loss of just over 9,000 people means this area's population was the second-most rapidly-declining in the North West and was the second most rapidly-declining across England.

In 2011, Sefton was home to, on average, 13 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Sefton

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Sefton increased by four years, from 40 to 44 years.

This area had a higher average age than the North West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 3,800 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 10,000.

About 11.0% of people in Sefton are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Sefton by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Higher proportion of people with disabilities

Sefton saw the North West's second-largest fall in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (87.4%) in Sefton reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities, compared with 88.4% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 4.1% to 5.1%.

Across the region, only Eden saw a greater fall in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability (from 90.3% to 88.7%).

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

Sefton saw the North West's second-largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just over one in eight (12.7%) households in Sefton had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 11.8% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 30.3% to 27.3%.

Across the region, only Knowsley saw a greater rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents (from 13.3% to 14.4%).

During this period, Sefton overtook Halton, Wigan and St. Helens to become the North West local authority area with the second-highest percentage of households with only adult children living with their parents.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the North West

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Sefton

Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation in Sefton, the largest percentage point increase was among those who said they had no religion, rising 8.2 points between 2001 and 2011. The census question about religion is voluntary, so varying response rates mean caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

In 2011, 16.8% of respondents in Sefton said they had no religion, up from 8.7% in 2001.

Across the North West, the percentage of respondents who described themselves as having no religion increased from 11.3% to 21.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Around 81.9% of respondents in Sefton said they were Christian, down from 90.2% in 2001. About 0.5% said they were Muslim, up from 0.3% a decade prior.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Sefton increased by 8.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, North West and Sefton by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Sefton that rented privately increased from 8.2% to 13.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in seven (14.5%) households lived in social housing, compared with 15.9% in 2001. The percentage of Sefton households that owned their home decreased from 73.7% to 70.5%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Sefton increased by 5.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Sefton, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Sefton

The percentage of single people in Sefton increased from 28.7% to 33.1% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under one in two (46.2%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 50.6% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Sefton that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 10.5% to 11.7%.

The proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 30.1% in 2001 to 35.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30.5% to 34.9%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Sefton residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 11.3% to 7.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (77.9%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 67.0% in 2001. The percentage of Sefton residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21.7% to 14.8%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.0% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Sefton decreased by 3.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Sefton, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Sefton working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 10.6% to 8.3% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.1% in 2001 to 8.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Sefton decreased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Sefton, the North West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of employment

The percentage of employed people increased in Sefton at a faster rate than in West Lancashire (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Sefton).

In Sefton, the proportion of employed people increased from 48.8% in 2001 to 50.9% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby West Lancashire increased from 50.4% to 50.4%.

Across the North West, the share of employed people increased from 50.6% to 51.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Sefton increased from 4.0% to 4.9%, while the rate of self-employment increased from 6.9% to 8.2%.

The rate of employment was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Sefton, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 6.2% to 8.3% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in three (32.1%) households had only one person, compared with 30.6% in 2001. The percentage of households in Sefton which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 35.8% to 31.8%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 7.9% in 2001 to 9.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Sefton increased by 2.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Sefton, the North West and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Sefton

In 2011, 97.4% of Sefton residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 98.4% in 2001.

Across the North West, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups decreased from 94.4% to 90.2%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 1.0% of people in Sefton said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.6% in 2001. About 1.0% said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 0.8% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.2% to 0.3%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from one of the White ethnic groups in Sefton remained close to 97.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Sefton by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Sefton residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.7% to 3.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 50 (1.8%) reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 2.4% in 2001 to 2.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Sefton remained close to 3.3%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Sefton by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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